Kwara State Chief Judge Abiodun Adebara has urged lawyers and judges in Nigeria to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in judicial administration responsibly and cautiously.
Justice Adebara admitted that AI had come to stay, but added that “in judicial administration, AI should be used with caution, as an aid to and not a substitute for human judgment and responsibility,” reports The Nation.
He conceded that AI, if properly harnessed, could be a powerful tool for advancing knowledge, productivity and human development.
The Chief Judge made the charge in Ilorin, the state capital, during the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year and valedictory session for Justice Hannah Ajayi (rtd.).
He said: “Notwithstanding its benefits, AI presented significant risks. It could generate inaccurate or entirely fabricated information, i.e. hallucinations — producing information that is incorrect but presented with great confidence.
“Also, excessive reliance on AI may weaken human judgment, critical thinking and professional responsibility. These risks are particularly serious where AI-generated information is relied upon in matters affecting rights, liberties, livelihood or other important human interests.
“In the light of the above, even though AI has come to stay, it is my view that in judicial administration, it must be independently verified, sensitive information protected, and systems subjected to appropriate scrutiny for accuracy, fairness, security and bias.
“Professionals, especially those of us exercising judicial functions, must retain personal responsibility for decisions made with AI assistance.
“The guiding principle should be simple: AI may assist human intelligence, but it must never replace human judgment, accountability, fairness and the rule of law. A lawyer/judge may use AI to assist with research, summarise voluminous materials, identify issues or improve administrative efficiency, but he must independently verify materials and personally undertake the judicial reasoning required to reach a decision.
“If judges and legal practitioners rely solely on AI for research, case filing, brief writing, judgment writing, etc., it would pose a great risk to the administration of justice, as AI lacks human emotion, which is vital in judgment writing.
“The consequences of doing otherwise may be grave. Recently, a Tanzanian court suspended an advocate for six months for citing cases that did not exist, invented by AI.”
In his remarks, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by his Deputy, Kayode Alabi, encouraged all judicial officers and members of the justice sector to renew their commitment to the speedy, fair and effective administration of justice.
AbdulRazaq added that “the Government of Kwara State would continue to do its part by providing the necessary support and creating an enabling environment for the judiciary to discharge its constitutional responsibilities effectively.”
